Produced by Jordan Peele and directed by the lead of the film himself, Dev Patel, Monkey Man serves as excellent directorial debut. The film’s story goes beyond a cage fighter getting revenge against the organization that wronged him and his mother and heavily draws from Hindu mythology in terms of the journey our protagonist goes on. Not only are the performances fantastic, but in true Jordan Peele fashion, the film’s underlying themes of colonialism and generational trauma are only bolstered by the film’s brutal and visceral action set pieces. I can’t express enough how incredible the choreography and the cinematography of the action was, and the comparisons to John Wick are more than valid. While I personally wish there was more of it, I still think this particular action thriller delivered an exceptionally balanced narrative, making its story and themes just as important as its action. Score: 8/10
Noah Robinson 